Box Score Led by the late-game heroics of senior Kristal Edwards, the Saint Peter's women's basketball team (0-9) managed to force overtime, but were ultimately unable to complete the come-from-behind victory and were defeated (69-62) by the Bucknell University Bison (7-4).
The Peacocks trailed for the entirety of regulation after giving up and early 2-0 lead to start the game, and did not recapture an advantage until the overtime period. Saint Peter's managed to battle back from a double-digit half-time deficit; capped by back-to-back buckets by Edwards in the last two minutes of regulation to send the game into extra-time.
Saint Peter's scored the first basket in overtime on a three-ball from straight-away by Aziza May to jump in front 58-55. That would be the only lead for the hosts however, as they were out-scored by a 14-7 margin in the remaining four and a half minutes.
Kristal Edwards led the squad in scoring, netting 20 points and added 8 boards, 4 steals and 3 assists.
Antonia Smith also finished in double-figures for the Peacocks, contributing 15 points.
After trailing by two, the Bison established an early three-point lead heading into the first media timeout, until a trey from straight-ahead by Khadijah Young knotted the score. Bucknell proceeded to go on a 9-2 tear however, to go in front 14-7, capped by a three-point field goal by Katherine Harris at 12:15.
Saint Peter's managed to cut the deficit to four on two separate occasions (15-11, 17-13) until two made free-throws by Kristal Edwards made it a two-point game with 5:45 to go.
An 11-3 run, capped by back-to-back treys by Bucknell gave the visitors a ten-point advantage (3:41). That also marked the first double-digit lead of the game for the Bison.
The Peacocks entered the half-time break trailing by eleven at 33-22. The hosts did however out-shoot the visitors 31.8% to 28.6% in the stanza.
Antonia Smith led Saint Peter's with 8 first-half points.
Saint Peter's opened up the second half with a 10-4 run to cut the deficit to five at 18:30.
Kristal Edwards made it a four-point game (41-37) just over eight minutes into the second stanza, following a fast break layup to force a Bucknell timeout.
The visitors were able to reestablish a twelve-point lead, but the hosts showed their resilience, coming within four markers two more times until a floater in the lane by freshman Hala Mostafa made it a two-point game with 2:50 to play.
Less than a minute later, Edwards tied the game (53-53) with a 15-foot jumper on the baseline.
The Bison regained their lead at 1:46 on a layup by Alyssa Dunn, but Edwards again came through with late-game heroics; draining a jump-shot from the foul line with 36 seconds to go.
Both teams would be unable to connect on a game-winning basket in the remaining seconds, forcing the first over-time period of the year for Saint Peter's.
Aziza May started the scoring in the extra time, draining a trey from the top of the key half a minute in. The Peacocks maintained an advantage until two made free throws by Shelby Romine evened the score at 59.
Bucknell began to create separation, going on a 6-0 run to jump in front 65-59. A conventional three-point play off an offensive rebound by Jesika Holmes made it a one-possession game with 14 ticks left.
The Bison would go a combined 4-4 from the line in the final 12 seconds however to ice the win.
Overall, the Peacocks shot 39.3% from the field, 25% from three-point range and 61.5% from the line. The Bison shot 34.8%, 27.3% and 70.8%, respectively. Bucknell out-rebounded the hosts by a 50-35 margin.
Bucknell was led by Shelby Romine, who had a game-high 29 points on 10-20 shooting. She added 12 rebounds in the win.
Saint Peter's returns home this Thursday, as they host Hampton at 7pm in the Yanitelli Center.
